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Huskins pointed to a 1970 comparison study by the well-published psychologist Alfred A. Barrios that noted hypnotherapy sees up to a 93% recovery rate after six sessions, compared to a 38% success rate after 600 psychotherapy sessions or 72% recovery after 22 behavioral therapy sessions. The difference between those three methods, according to Barrios: “The current trend is to use hypnosis to remove the negative attitudes, fears, maladaptive behavior patterns and negative self-images underlying the symptoms.” Other studies point to significant success rates in addressing fears and negative behaviors, including a 1995 study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. This paper showed “the average client receiving cognitive–behavioral hypnotherapy showed greater improvement than at least 70% of clients receiving nonhypnotic treatment.” This improvement continued even well after their treatment ended. Most recently, Baylor University began its own pilot study into hypnotherapy. Researchers in Waco, Texas, in 2020
pendulum lulling a person to sleep or barking like a dog under hypnosis no doubt entertains audiences at fairs and magic shows, but these performances only contribute to misconceptions about the practice, according to Huskins. “It’s not mind control. I’m not doing anything to the client,” she said. “I am simply having a conversation with the deepest part of your mind that controls all of your behaviors, your emotions, your habits that exist in your subconscious.” The practice is rooted in Jungian psychotherapy, or eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing. Swiss psychotherapist Carl Jung emphasized incorporating the unconscious mind in his philosophies and the form of talk therapy that bears his name, while EMDR engages both sides of the brain to reprocess images of and responses to traumatic memories. Hypnotherapy is less invasive and doesn’t require recounting painful memories. “In hypnotherapy, I use a lot of imagery, but I don’t have you go through the trauma,” Huskins said. “It is a state of deep relaxation. Every suggestion, everything that’s talked about is positive.”
A typical session will incorporate brief discussions about coping skills and even recent dreams. The patient will learn breathing techniques for stress relief and healthy methods to reduce stress like daily gratitude journaling. Then the real work begins. A new alternative to talk therapy? In just six sessions with Huskins in Maricopa, Burritt said he saw a huge change in his self- perception and sobriety efforts. “She went into a place in my mind that helped undo all the stuff that was troubling me, all the baggage I carried,” he said.
Maricopa-based hypnotherapist Christian Huskins (left) begins a session in her home office with client Martina Ashley.
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The Maricopan Candidate Hypnotherapy makes strides in Maricopa, where most think it’s quackery BY MONICA D. SPENCER
TEP ONE IS ADMITTING YOU have a problem. For Phoenix resident Mason Burritt, step two was finding a way to reduce his chances of falling off the wagon and back into alcoholism. “I was self-medicating,” he said. “Alcohol was my go-to if I started to get stressed or anxious. I got myself into some pretty dangerous situations and I realized that wasn’t fair to myself or anyone around me.” Self-help groups erred a little too heavy into proselytization. “I stayed [in the treatment center] for a week, but I was still struggling afterwards,” he said. “I’m not really much of an [Alcoholics Anonymous] guy, so I was looking for different means and methods to work on my alcoholism.” S
Like the recent push by Arizona state Sen. T.J. Shope, a Republican representing Maricopa, to back psilocybin-assisted therapy, Arizonans have increasingly sought less traditional routes to address mental health issues. For some like Burritt and Huskins, this means dipping their toes into the elusive world of hypnotherapy. Where’s the swinging pocket watch? Contrary to the specters of Hollywood (think 1999’s Office Space), spiraling eyes and mush- ifying of the brain in a sleepy trance-like state aren’t part of a clinical hypnotherapy session. Yes, even Futurama’s beloved Hypnotoad is culpable. “A lot of people look at it like a stage show,” Huskins said. The idea of a swinging pocket watch or
That’s when Burritt came across social media posts from former his co-worker Christian Huskins, a Glennwilde resident, about hypnotherapy and sought her help. The idea of a passive entrée to the subconscious to treat prolonged alcohol abuse, childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder felt enticing. “There were a lot of things I wanted to resolve and be able to move forward with in my life,” he said. “I just wanted to move forward.” Huskins’ introduction to hypnotherapy came when she addressed her own history with childhood trauma and abuse. “I was in talk therapy for probably 15 years, and I didn’t see a whole lot of change,” she said. “I ended up seeing a hypnotherapist several years ago and that experience changed my life. I knew I wanted to help others the same way.”
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InMaricopa.com | September 2024
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September 2024 | InMaricopa.com
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